Boy held for trying to kill goat says he was inspired by IS video

Police have arrested a third-year junior high school boy for attempting to kill a goat. The boy told police he was inspired to kill someone after watching videos of Islamic State extremists beheading hostages and that he wanted to practice on the goat first.

According to police, the boy broke into the grounds of a school in Tachikawa, Tokyo, at around 1 a.m. on Feb 15. NTV reported that he had with him a bag containing a handsaw and an iron bar. The boy went to an enclosure where the school keeps some animals and then attempted to kill the goat with the bar. However, the goat’s bleating attracted the attention of a police officer on patrol.

The boy tried to flee but was caught by the policeman. The goat did not suffer any serious injuries, police said.